Wine

A new alliance of Minnesota wineries is hoping to make the Big Woods the next Napa Valley. Read more about Minnesota Winery Alliance Hopes to Bring Oenophiles to Big Woods

One shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but most wine makers hope consumers judge, at least partly, a bottle by its label. Deliberate attention is granted to details that create what goes into a bottle of wine—and what goes on it. Read more about Artists Dress Wine Bottles in Cloaks of Creativity

Sampling new wines surrounded by beautiful scenery is definitely part of the charm of visiting Minnesota wineries, but local wine connoisseurs also savor learning about the stories behind the wine. Authors Diane Lynch and Dick Osgood collected many of those stories in their book, Minnesota Winery Stories. The book lists almost every winery in the state, with in-depth stories on 15 Minnesota wineries, including Parley Lake Winery in Waconia. Read more about Grape Staycation

While a background in graphic design and photography might not seem like a natural pathway to winemaking, it makes perfect sense after chatting with Ben Banks, the award-winning winemaker at Sovereign Estate in Waconia. Read more about Waconia Winemaker: Ben Banks of Sovereign Estate